The Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Central Arkansas offers a PhD in Physical Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and an accredited Residency in Pediatric Physical Therapy Program.  The UCA Department of Physical Therapy began graduating students in 1972 as the first PT Program in the state of Arkansas.  The Department is comprised of fifteen faculty members (see profiles). The Department of Physical Therapy is housed in the PT Center, a 40,000+ square foot building, which was constructed in 2000 as well as a 3,300 square foot Gross Anatomy lab built in 2008.

See the UCA PT Slideshow to learn more about the UCA Physical Therapy program including pictures of the Physical Therapy Center, the Gross Anatomy and Neuroscience lab, DPT Students in lab, presenting research and attending community outings as well as pictures of the UCA campus.  

Performance of UCA DPT graduates is as follows:

• 96% = First Time Pass Rate on National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) 
  
• 100% = Ultimate Pass Rate on NPTE
• 100% = Employment Rate (of students passing the NPTE)

Admission

The DPT Program requires a selective admission process, a new class of 56 students is invited each fall semester to begin study in the three year Professional DPT Program .  The curriculum includes 123 credits (graduate level) where students progress from foundational sciences and skills to application to patient care concluding with full-time clinical internship rotations at clinical education facilities in and out of the state.  

Applications to the DPT Program at due October 1 each year and are accepted through PTCAS at http://www.ptcas.org. 

The DPT Program Brochure provides details regarding admission requirements.  A bachelor's degree, 41 credits of specific coursework, GRE score, minimum GPA and documented observation of a PT are required for admission.  To be eligible for admission, by the application deadline, the applicant must:

1. Possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 based on a 4.00 scale,
2. Possess a science GPA of least 3.00 for all biology, chemistry, and physics coursework,
3. Have received a score on the GRE (graduate record exam).  Have all GRE scores sent to PTCAS with GRE code 3630,
4. Have completed a minimum of 22 hours of the 31 required hours of science prerequisites by the DPT application deadline, and
5. Have completed 45 hours of PT observation at 3 different clinical settings (10-20 hours per setting) by the application deadline.  Contact PTCAS Customer Service for instructions on how to document observation hours.

A bachelor's degree is required by the program start date in August.  The 41 hours of required prerequisite course work include:

1. Psychology - 6 hours (General Psychology and a Psychology elective)
2. Medical Terminology - 1 hour
3. Statistics - 3 hours
4. General Chemistry I and II - 8 hours (two semester sequence with lab and grade of C or better)
5. College Physics I and II - 8 hours (two semester sequence with lab and grade of C or better)
6. Biology - 15 hours including 4 hours of Biology for Majors with lab, 8 hours of Human Anatomy and Physiology, and 3 hours of upper division (junior or senior level) animal-based biology.

Open House

An Open House for prospective applicants is scheduled for Friday, October 24 from 3:00-6:00 CST in the PT Center at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas.  Visitors can tour the Department.  See invitation.

Connect with the UCA Physical Therapy Program via social media at: 

Instagram:  UCADPT 

Twitter: @UCADPT and

Facebook: UCA-Physical Therapy